Hand Blessing at Catholic Ceremony?
I've never been interested in the unity candle, but I would love to do this hand blessing during the time that we would do a devotion to the Blessed Mother. Has anyone seen that at a Catholic ceremony (non Mass, if that matters)?
If your not familar, the words go something like this:
Officiant: [Bride], please hold [Groom's] hands palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you and cherish you through the years for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will love you passionately, and, with the slightest touch, comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes- tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief engulfs your heart.
These are the hands that will give you strength and support when you can't do it alone.
These are the hands that, when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
Officiant: [Groom], please hold [Bride's] hands palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you.
These are the hands of your best friend, smooth, young and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she promises to love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.
These are the hands that will work alongside yours, as together you build your future.
These are the hands that will love you passionately, and, with the slightest touch, comfort you like no other.
These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes- tears of sorrow, and tears of joy.
These are the hands that will hold you when fear or grief engulfs your heart.
These are the hands that will give you strength and support when you can't do it alone.
These are the hands that, when wrinkled and aged, will still be reaching for yours, still giving you the same unspoken tenderness with just a touch.
Re: Hand Blessing at Catholic Ceremony?
I don't understand why you want to replace a devotion to Mary with this.
it seems that in all of hte places where "hands" are mentioned, it should be be more of a reference to God. for example, "These are the hands that will give you strength and support when you can't do it alone." isnt God what should give you strength and support when you cant do it alone?
it definteily soudns liek a very secular ritual. i think it woudl be nice for a ceremony where the couple wants some "meat" so that they have a ceremony longer than 10 minutes, when tehy cant fill it with things like prayer or readings because they arent religious. where you are going to to be having a religious ceremony, this seems unnecesary.
your priest may say some things are ok or that he doestn care, but that doesnt always mean its right.
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Thanks-- I figured the ladies on here would know. You respond much faster than our priest
I've heard that some priests will allow extra readings or personalized vows during the church ceremony, but I've personally never seen it. I guess you could ask. But... the ceremony is complete, how much do you think the Hand Blessing adds to your wedding experience? And it's in a church. Do you really want to bring in a pagan element to your church wedding?
[QUOTE]There are many wedding traditions that have pagan roots, such as the something blue, something old, something new tradition, or the unity candle tradition, not seeing the bride before the ceremony, etc. The issue here, I think, isn't that it's got pagan roots. The issue is that you are adding or subtracting something from the Liturgy . That should be avoided.
Posted by clearheavens[/QUOTE]
I believe the unity candle was invented on a soap opera, not necessarily a pagan ritual.... I could be wrong.
It is definitely an issue if there is pagan meaning behind it.
[QUOTE]In Response to Re: Hand Blessing at Catholic Ceremony? : I believe the unity candle was invented on a soap opera, not necessarily a pagan ritual.... I could be wrong. It is definitely an issue if there is pagan meaning behind it.
Posted by agapecarrie[/QUOTE]
I think the unity candle became popular after it was part of a wedding on a soap opera, but use of unity candles existed before said General Hospital episode. I think originally it was more popular in interfaith weddings but that 1981 General Hospital exploded its popularity. My quick Google search says the unity candle started making its way into wedding ceremonies about 40 years ago, so I wouldn't call its origins pagan, just not especially Christian.
"Handfasting" is a ritual that is celtic or pagan in origin.
The hand blessing ceremony I'm asking about is more "secular" as Calypso points out. So, to me it seems like it is more along the lines or a unity candle or sand ceremony.
The "something borrowed" thing I never knew it to be pagan. I'm not saying it isn't, but from what I know, that would be considered secular.
Handfasting is pagan.
[QUOTE]"secular" i think is a better word choice than "pagan".
Posted by Calypso1977[/QUOTE]
<div>Yeah, that's what I mean. Thanks, Calypso! Pagan would be morally wrong because it worships anything but God.</div><div>
</div><div>To the OP, I still am very hesitant about the hand blessing though as sweet and lovely as it sounds, because it is adding to the Liturgy something that does not glorify God. The point of Mass is to worship and unify all towards God. Maybe the hand blessing has another place but it is not the Liturgy.</div>